Based on a true story of Polish submarine "Orzel" (The Eagle): September 1939, "Orzel" is coming to Estonian neutral harbor in Tallin. Under pressure from Germany Estonians have intern the ship. Commander Grabinski decides to escape to England through the Baltic Sea, without any maps that has been confiscated and with only small amount of fuel on board.
Practical Effects
Submarine set built from scratch—Polish engineering under communist constraints.
Acting
Gliński's exhausted eyes carry the entire Atlantic crossing.
Direction
Buczkowski squeezes dread from every rivet and gauge.

Director
Leonard Buczkowski
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The real ORP Orzeł's escape inspired both Britain and Germany to tighten Baltic neutrality rules—Estonia paid for this movie's plot in invaded territory.
This was communist Poland's most expensive film ever made, partly to prove Polish naval heroism existed outside Soviet narratives. The submarine set? Built in a swimming pool.